Digital and traditional art from China showcased on campus

The University’s Bath House Galleries recently hosted a groundbreaking exhibition Chasing Light · Pursuing Dreams · Glimpsing China, as part of the Chinese Traditional Festival Culture Light and Shadow Art European Tour Exhibition.

The Richard Steinitz building was also transformed into a visual canvas with a 60-minute projection of digital media artworks. This exhibition marks a significant moment in the fusion of digital media art and traditional Chinese art, and is also part of Chinese cultural outreach to international audiences in the UK and Europe.

The University of Huddersfield, known for its commitment to cultural exchange and cutting-edge art, provided the perfect setting for this exhibition, fostering international collaborations in the arts.

The exhibition, a collaborative effort between the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Jilin University of the Arts, and the College of Fine Arts of Shanghai University, showcased works by top Chinese artists. These include original digital versions of art masterpieces, new media video clips, and immersive VR experiences, offering a unique and interactive way to engage with the art on display.

The exhibition featured works from a variety of artists that explore the integration and dialogue between digital media art and traditional art, as well as the deconstruction and dissemination of symbols of Chinese traditional festival culture. 

The opening ceremony in the atrium of the Barbara Hepworth Building brought together esteemed artists, presidents and Deans from various universities in China and the UK, including Prof. Jie Zhang, PhD supervisor at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Minhua Ma, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, Hua Dong, Dean of the School of Design at Brunel University London, Andy Grayston, Director of Higher Education at Leeds Arts University and Professor Nic Clear, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield. 

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Other invited guests included Yan Liang, Counsellor, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Manchester, and Haile Liun, Vice Consul.

The exhibition is supported by the prestigious National Art Fund, co-produced by the Digital Culture and Art Museum of China Media Group, and co-organized by the Cultural Heritage Communication Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics.

The School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield has played an active role in bringing this programme to life. The School offers a dynamic and supportive environment for international collaborations between international artists and university institutions.